IT'S WAR
A Call to Arms
by Don Hawley
Often historians can point to a period in history when theentire course of civilization was altered by some great event.Such was the case with Christ's sacrifice on Calvary for allhuman kind. The fact that these earth-shaking happenings arerejected or ignored by many, in no way lessens their importanceor effect. It is my personal conviction, and I am not alone inthinking so, that we are now at the greatest watershed forhumanity since the dawn of time. The consequences of eventsalready in progress will effect every person on earth foreternity.
Although I am not going out of my way to offend, I know manywill find some of my remarks offensive. I take comfort in thefact that, according to the biblical record, Jesus was constantly"offending" someone. His own disciples often wereaghast at his plain speaking, especially to the religiousleaders. It wasn't that our Lord lacked tact, it was just thatgenuine love forced him to be truthful. He would have made aterrible politician, for he spoke according to people's needsrather than giving them what they wanted to hear.
An Ancient Conflict
New wars are continually cropping up, but the one I am writingabout is ancient. It began when Lucifer challenged Almighty Godfor his throne. Eventually that great cosmic conflict shifted toearth, and the trail of blood through Scripture chronicles themany clashes throughout history. The critical battle was foughton a lonely hill called Golgotha, where the forces of evil lostdecisively. As is often the case, however, the war has continuedunabated, claiming billions of lives. Every funeral procession,regardless of the "cause of death," represents a warcasualty.
Fortunately, the conflict is nearly over; the true"mother of all battles" is already underway. What liesahead will be the greatest "time of trouble" humanityhas ever witnessed, but it will culminate with the coming ofJesus Christ as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. That is what allthe righteous have longed for since the Garden of Eden. What atime to be alive!
Eternal Consequences
It is vital that each person understand how he or she fitsinto this final conflict. God will not allow any to remainignorant of the eternal consequences.
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all theangels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. Allthe nations will be gathered in his presence, and he willseparate them as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at hisleft. Then the King will say to those on the right, 'Come, youwho are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared foryou from the foundation of the world . . .'
"Then the King will turn to those on the left and say,'Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire preparedfor the Devil and his demons!'" Matt. 25:31-34, 41
As fire separates the pure gold from the dross, just so theimpending conflict will separate the spiritual sheep from thereligious, or indifferent, goats.
"These trials are only to test your faith, to show thatit is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests andpurifies gold-and your faith is far more precious to God thanmere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried byfiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honoron the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the wholeworld." 1 Peter 1:7
There is no salvation in the fire; it merely reveals those whohave been saved in Jesus Christ. And what is it that people willbe battling over? For the worldly it has usually been over land,or power, or in our day, oil. In the church bloody wars have beenfought over doctrines, and the result has been the shamefulsplintering of the Body of Christ into competing denominations.Now, however, the issues will be simple and sufficiently clear togive each person a fair opportunity to choose eternal life.
Deciding Factors
There will be two basic issues:
1. Everyone will have to decide whether they will trust in theblood of Jesus ONLY for their salvation, or whether they willinsist on mixing in a little self works. This is not to denigrateour sanctification or growth in Christ, but to clarify the factthere are only two religions on earth:
a. Good works bring about salvation.
b. Salvation brings about good works.
Those who insist on going with the first concept, and thisincludes many nominal Christians at this time, will be foundfighting against God. They will be on the wrong side of thebattle.
2. Everyone will have to develop the kind of balance in theirspiritual life that Jesus calls for.
"The time is coming and is already here when trueworshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. TheFather is looking for anyone who will worship him that way. ForGod is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spiritand in truth." John 4:23, 24
Note here that Jesus personally defines a "trueworshipper." It would seem obvious that the sheep will bethose who have been true worshippers. One of the greatestsuccesses the devil has had in warring against the Kingdom hasbeen effecting a division between spirit and truth. Christendomhas been split between those who champion the truth, the Word(Logos), and those who proclaim the ministry of the Spirit(Rhema). The former boast of their great knowledge of the Bible,and tend to shun the ministry of the Spirit. They don't want anyof that "emotional stuff." The other group has upheldthe ministry and gifts of the Spirit, but has downplayed the"doctrinal stuff." And with their endless squabbling,neither side has shown much of the FRUIT of the Spirit.
Jesus is now calling out true worshippers who will move into abalanced position. Those who don't like this idea will be warringagainst their Lord, and on the wrong side of the war. In speakingabout straight preaching, Arthur Wallis wrote:
"Such preaching, by making indifference impossible, setsthe hearers in one of two camps. It is calculated to produce arevival or a riot."
In recent history at least, the "truth" has receivedmore acclaim than the "spirit." That is veryunfortunate, even dangerous, because since Pentecost we have beenliving in the special era of the Holy Spirit.
"When the Father sends the Counselor as myrepresentative-and by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit-hewill teach you everything and will remind you of everything Imyself have told you." John 14:26
The glorious book of Acts records a church that certainlydoesn't look like the anemic church of our day. The difference isthat Pentecost had just brought the might of the Holy Spirit intoministry, and the church moved with power. Peter explained thatwhat was taking place had been prophesied by the prophet Joel.
"In the last days, God said, I will pour out my Spiritupon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, youryoung men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.In those days I will pour out my Spirit upon all my servants, menand women alike, and they will prophesy. And I will cause wondersin the heavens above and signs on the earth below-blood and fireand clouds of smoke." Acts 2:17-19
A New Pentecost
The work of Almighty God will not close with lessmanifestation of his power than that with which it began.Pentecost was a glorious revelation of the Lord's might, butPentecost II will be even more glorious. Most Christians confessthat one day there will be a "latter rain," but sadlyit is always somewhere in the future. Nearly all the Jews werelooking and praying for the promised Messiah, but when he camethey just couldn't get it straight that Jesus Christ WAS thatMessiah. Are Christians today going to make the same mistake inignoring the work of the Holy Spirit?
As someone aptly put it, "God's people missed the firstadvent of our Lord because they were expecting him to come as aLion and he came as a Lamb. Some will miss his second adventbecause they are looking for a Lamb and he is coming as a Lion.
Since 1994, the greatest Renewal since Pentecost has sweptaround the world. Millions have embraced this powerful move ofthe Holy Spirit, and the result is a new passion for our Lord.The telling mark of this Renewal is that it is accomplishing thekind of unity that the ecumenical movement failed to produce. Inmost Renewal centers, pastors from many backgrounds areministering in loving unity to the glory of God.
As could be expected, this move of God has its detractors andopponents, particularly among religious leaders. The Renewalcalls for honest recognition of the priesthood of the believers,and for servant leadership. This concept doesn't enthuse many inpositions of power today any more than it did in Christ's time.
If there are those who are not fully aware of what God isdoing in Renewal today, do not rest until you personally are in aposition to evaluate the movement carefully and prayerfully.Don't settle for hearsay; check for yourself.
"Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treatprophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good.Avoid every kind of evil." 1Thess. 5:19-22
A New Level
One of the results of this Renewal is a revitalization of thegift of prophecy. For centuries the church has been moving inblindness, but no more. The beginning of the Renewal itself wasspecifically prophesied. More recently, several strongprophetical voices independently predicted that during 1997 theSpirit's move will be lifted to a new level. This, of course,will result in increased tensions between those who are movingwith the Spirit, and those who are holding back.
I am under conviction that those alive today will see theculmination of all things. That means this generation is entirelyunique, and will be dealt with uniquely. In the past God has"winked" at many of our weaknesses, but now the winkingtime is over. In our own day, all will have to make a decidedchoice with eternal consequences. To be perfectly fair, God willallow unprecedented activity to demand the close attention ofevery man and woman. Each one will make a knowledgeable choicewhether to stand at Christ's right hand or his left.
And what is it that will rivet everyone's attention? Very soonthe gates of heaven will be swung open wider than they have everbeen. The power of God will be seen as never before. At the sametime, the Lord will allow the gates of hell to be open as neverbefore as well. The hoards of hell will throw everything theyhave into this last desperate battle; nothing will be held back.We will be surrounded on every hand with supernatural forces fromboth heaven and hell. At that time our five senses will be oflittle value. Our only hope of coming through victorious restswith an indwelling Holy Spirit. If we have made it a practice toaccept his rule in our lives, he will guide us step by step. Infearful times, we need not fear.
Those who are frightened by the supernatural, who believe thatthe devil's power to deceive is greater than God's power toprotect, are in a precarious position. They are apt to fall intothe same trap so many did in Christ's time, attributing theSavior's mighty works to Satan. The most ominous warning inScripture warns about that error.
"I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgivenmen, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven,but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not beforgiven, either in this age or in the age to come." Matt.12:31, 32
The War
This will not be a war merely between church people and theworld. It also will be a difficult civil war, conflict withinChristendom, or even within one's own family.
"Don't imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth!No, I came to bring a sword. I have come to set a man against hisfather, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-lawagainst her mother-in-law. Your enemies will be right in your ownhousehold! If you love your father or mother more than you loveme, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son ordaughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine."Matt. 10:34, 36
These will be solemn times that will test the mettle of everysoul. God demands, and deserves, complete loyalty and dedicationfrom each of us who claim the name Christian.
No Conscription
The army of the Lord is an all-volunteer force. No one will bedrafted, and those who serve will do so eagerly rather thangrudgingly. That army will make up the Body of Christ.
Leadership
During World War II we sometimes had to render obedience toofficers who had poor judgement. I still recall charting ourgunboat's course back and forth through a known mine field for noapparent reason. We faithfully obeyed orders until we hit a mine,and our ship was out of commission for the rest of the war.
This time our Heavenly Commander is Jesus Christ, and hedoesn't make mistakes. The Holy Spirit will lead on thebattlefield; we can go forward in full confidence.
No Excuses
Many were excused from serving in the armed forces when judgedmedically unfit-4F. All can serve in this war. Even a paraplegicconfined to a wheelchair can be a powerful intercessor and helpchange the course of battle.
No Conscientious Objectors
During past wars some have been allowed to join as"conscientious objectors," helping in supporting rolesbut not carrying a weapon. Not this time. The only objectionGod's troops have is what the devil has been doing to the humanrace.
No Cowardice
There is no place in God's army for timidity or fear. Nomatter what our natural bent, we will end up bravely on theLord's side. The righteous are bold as a lion.
The Front
Every spot on earth will be a part of the front; no place tohide. There will be no "civilians" who stand apart;anyone who refuses to serve in God's army is automatically a partof the forces of evil.
Rations GI's are famous for grumbling about field rations. Goddoesn't serve gourmet meals, but he does promise that our breadand water will be sure.
Weaponry
Often the outcome of a war will turn on who has the bestweapons. Let us not underestimate what the devil has to workwith, but know that the forces of righteousness have himcompletely outclassed.
"We are human, but we don't wage war with human plans andmethods. We use God's mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons,to knock down the Devil's strongholds." 2 Corin. 10:3, 4
Strategy
The devil has a high IQ, but actually isn't too bright. If hewas, he wouldn't have taken on Almighty God. He also has aserious strategy deficit; he can't read minds, whereas all thingsare open to our Lord.
Communications
Although he has large numbers of troops, the devil can be inonly one place at a time. The Lord has a tremendous advantage, asthe Holy Spirit can be everywhere at all times.
Battle Gear
When I arrived at Boot Camp during World War II, the firstthing they did was issue all my uniforms and equipment. It wasthe best my country could provide, but it pales before God'soutfitting.
"Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able tostand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. For weare not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, butagainst the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world,against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, andagainst wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.
"Use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy inthe time of evil, so that after the battle you will, still bestanding firm. Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt oftruth and the body armor of God's righteousness. For shoes, puton the peace that comes from the Good News, so that you will befully prepared. In every battle you will need faith as yourshield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan. Put onsalvation as your helmet . . ." Eph. 6: 11-17
You can see that God's battalions are well protected againstthe onslaughts of the enemy. However, wars are not won by merelyholding defensive positions. To win the battle there must beoffensive warfare.
"And take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word ofGod." Vs. 17
The sword is not merely to protect oneself, but to inflictdamage on the enemy. The devil has been serious about woundingand killing us, we have to get serious about challenging him-asthe Spirit directs. So far, most Christians have been content topeek fearfully over the edge of a protective trench. They havedug in at the weekly service, and seldom venture out to dobattle. The devil has had a comparatively easy time of it. If youhave been planning to give it your all when the time is ripe, Ihave news for you. That time is NOW. The final battle hascommenced, whether you were aware or not. Fight now, or get outof the way of those who are ready press the battle home.
Numbers
Don't be fooled into numbering the Lord's forces; God is moreinterested in quality than quantity. Gideon was afraid his 32,000soldiers were no match for the Midianite forces, but God send22,000 of them home because they were too timid. With his finalcut he pared Gideon's troops down to a mere 300! The outcome ofthe battle was a complete route of the enemy. If God is for us,who can be against us?
Right now, God is "Gideonizing" his troops, and manywill leave the ranks of the true Body of Christ.
All-out War
In this war there will be no quarter, no cease firearrangements. The devil and his minions will be offered nocompromise. Their only option is not unconditional surrender, butannihilation. Do not be deceived by those who say, "Peace,peace, when there is no peace."
In 1914 the Allies fought the "war to end all wars,"but blood has been flowing ever since. We should be greatlyencouraged by the Lord's promise:
"He will pursue his foes into darkness. Whatever theyplot against the Lord he will bring to an end; trouble will notcome a second time." Nahum 1:8, 9
Let's stand faithfully for the Lord now, and then enjoy truepeace forevermore.
Our Mental Attitude
I have spoken about wielding the sword with vigor, but beforewe unsheathe our sword we had better be sure our hearts are pure.Jesus was pitiless in his attacks, in public, on the corruptleadership of that day. They were holding his people in bondage,and our Lord wanted them free. However, even as he directed hisscathing rebukes at the Pharisees and Sadducees, he did so inlove. He could not tolerate their pride and lust for power, buthe wanted to set them free as well. He knew that nothing lessthan shock treatment could penetrate their hard hearts, and someof them were saved.
Like our Savior, we must love even those in serious error. Butalso like our Savior, we must hate sin. It was sin that took ourLord to the horrible death of the cross, and we cannot compromisewith evil. In the Holy Spirit, and only in him, it is possible tolove sinners while hating sin. We have always been more adept athating sinners and loving sin; it's time for many of us toreceive a heart transplant from the Great Physician.
The Harvest
We have spoken of the many calamities about to strike planetearth, but there is also a bright side to the picture. Throughmonths of Renewal, God has been loving on his people. They camegloomy and lifeless, hardly ready to enter the harvest fields.Now that they have a new life and joy in the Lord, they are readyto witness with power.
Some who have attacked the Renewal have made the charge thatit's all about getting happy, and nothing about winning souls forChrist. They need to do a bit of checking before pointing anegative finger. While many parched souls have been gulping downthe new wine, in one Renewal center (Brownsville, Florida) theharvesting is well underway. In 18 months of union with the HolySpirit, this one congregation has baptized 91,000 people intoChrist! This is just a sample of what is about to burst upon us.As millions turn their back on God's wonderful Renewal, millionsof new converts will take their place.
Commitment
The time for Laodicean daydreaming is over. Many professedChristians have been indifferent to what is taking place aroundthem, whether good or bad. They are like people calmly playingcheckers in the grand lounge as the Titanic slips beneath thewaves. If you are serious about your eternal welfare, then hearthe voice of the Heavenly Commander.
"Say to the nations far and wide: 'Get ready for war!Call out your best warriors! Let all your fighting men advancefor the attack! Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruninghooks into spears. Train even your weaklings to bewarriors." Joel 3:9, 10
Loyalty
The first thing I had to do when volunteering for service inthe US armed forces was to swear an oath of complete loyalty. Atthis time of crisis we need to reassess our oath of loyalty tothe heavenly forces. One of the first areas we need to examine isthat of denominationalism.
Nothing has divided the Body of Christ like the proliferationof denominations. There are so many hundreds of them that anyoneseeking the Lord is bewildered by the array. Of course each isadamant in proclaiming that they alone are really on target; allthe others are second class organizations at best. The truth isthat denominationalism was never God's plan, and that arrangementhas done more harm than it ever has good.
One of the first things I noted upon involving myself in theworldwide Renewal, was that what I was seeing was a portion ofthe Body of Christ meeting together in love. People were gatheredfrom all over the world. Race was meaningless, as wasdenominationalism. Much of the problem of denominationalism willbe solved automatically as renewed Christians merely rise abovethe old, and cold, divisions.
The denominations are like tall vertical walls separating onegroup of Christians from another. Today the finger of God isdrawing a new horizontal line across these many man-made walls.This will divide all people into just two groups, the Body ofChrist and those who do not belong to the Body of Christ. Thesheep and the goats.
Although most denominations will merely die on the vine, somecall for immediate attention. To remain involved with certaingroups is to make our profession of loyalty to God a farce.
The Acid Test
The theme of the Bible is obvious; it has to do with thesacrifice of Jesus for guilty man, thus purchasing for himeternal life. We call that the Good News, or the Gospel. Thereare many good doctrines, but nothing else approaches thecentrality or importance of this one teaching. The devil knowsthis, and for that reason he never ceases his attempts toundermine the message of salvation. Unfortunately he has beensurprisingly successful, and even today millions upon millions ofprofessed Christians are in bondage, rather than enjoying truefreedom in Christ.
With that in mind, it would be well to state once again thepure, unadulterated Gospel.
"No one can ever be made right in God's sight by doingwhat his law commands. For the more we know God's law, theclearer it becomes that we aren't obeying it.
"But now God has shown us a different way of being rightin his sight-not by obeying the law but by the way promised inthe Scriptures long ago. We are made right in God's sight when wetrust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can besaved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we havedone.
"For all have sinned; all fall short of God's gloriousstandard. Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us notguilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed usby taking away our sins. For God sent Jesus to take thepunishment for our sins and to satisfy God's anger against us. Weare made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed hisblood, sacrificing his life for us." Rom. 3:20-25
Our growth in Christ after being saved in him is beautiful andvital, and it is a lifelong cooperative venture. But salvationitself involves the blood of Jesus PLUS NOTHING. Any little bitof self effort we try to introduce into the salvation equation isthe greatest show of disloyalty to the Father we can conjure up.It was difficult enough for God to give up his son on the crossfor guilty man, without some proclaiming it an insufficientsacrifice!
Antichrist
One of the favorite pastimes of many Christians is trying tofigure out who the Antichrist is or will be. Of course, thefavorite target changes from one era to another. We need to takenote of John's warning.
"Dear children, the last hour is here. You have heardthat the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichristshave appeared. From this we know that the end of the world hascome." 1 John 2:18
"If a prophet does not acknowledge Jesus, that person isnot from God. Such a person has the spirit of theAntichrist." 1 John 4:3
Instead of trying to figure out if Saddam Hussein is theAntichrist, we need to be more concerned about the SPIRIT of theAntichrist. It was already moving in John's day, and it is stillrampant in ours. Antichrist simply means "againstChrist," and what could be more against him than saying hissuffering and death on Calvary was not good enough. Paul addedhis own comment on this matter.
"I am not one of those who treats Christ's death asmeaningless. For if we could be saved by keeping Jewish laws,then there was no need for Christ to die." Gal. 2:21
Instead of "Jewish laws" just insert"denominational rules, regulations, and traditions."These are the things many are trusting in for their eternalsalvation. In so doing, they are in essence saying, "Sorryabout that nasty thing on the cross, Jesus; it didn't actuallyhave to happen. I'm really doing quite well through my ownefforts. At least if we work together on this salvation thing, itcan't fail." How dare we talk like that to the Son of God!
My Personal Experience
I have only belonged to one denomination in my lifetime, but Iwould like to relate how that affected my life. There are manywonderful Christian people in that particular denomination, andsome are my loved ones or lifelong friends. My comments are notdirected to them, but to the manmade organization that stillholds them in the bondage of legalism.
After WWII I felt a need to become a Christian. Unfortunatelyall I knew to do was find some denomination, and I chose one thatmany of my relatives had embraced. Some Christians need to returnto their "first love," but I never had such anexperience to return to. The pastor took time to be sure Iunderstood some of the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation, butthere was nothing about the love of God or the Gospel of JesusChrist. I do not fault that man; no one had ever shared theessence of Christianity with him either.
In my earnestness I transferred to a denominational college,and graduated with a degree in religion. Again the Gospel was notupheld, and I went into a pastorate with nothing of value tooffer. When I stood in the pulpit I felt like a fraud, but Ididn't know what was missing. Later I served nearly six years ina major Muslim nation, without sharing the Gospel of Jesus with asingle soul. I couldn't share that which I didn't have.
Returning to the States I moved from one leadership positionto another, still plagued with guilt, fear, and a lack of joy.Because I allowed a strongly hierarchical system to do mythinking for me, I didn't find the Gospel, the Pearl of greatprice, until I had gray hair. The strength of my youth, and thatof my middle age, wasn't merely wasted, but given over topreaching against the cross. Whatever time I have left, I amdetermined to preach nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified.
A Dire Warning
I am continually surprised that so little attention is paid tothe strong warning Paul gave the churches of Galatia. This issuch a fearful threat that I am going to emphasize a portion ofthe text.
"I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God,who in his love and mercy called you to share the eternal life hegives through Christ. You are already following a different waythat pretends to be the Good News but is not the Good News atall. You are being fooled by those who twist and change the truthconcerning Christ.
"LET GOD'S CURSE FALL ON ANYONE, INCLUDING MYSELF, WHOPREACHES ANY OTHER MESSAGE THAN THE ONE WE TOLD YOU ABOUT. EVENIF AN ANGEL COMES FROM HEAVEN AND PREACHES ANY OTHER MESSAGE, LETHIM BE FOREVER CURSED. I WILL SAY IT AGAIN: IF ANYONE PREACHESANY OTHER GOSPEL THAN THE ONE YOU WELCOMED, LET GOD'S CURSE FALLUPON THAT PERSON." Gal. 1:6-9
I don't know what Paul could have done to drive the point homeharder, but still few seem to take his warning seriously. Suchindifference might have been overlooked in the past, but itcannot continue into the final battle. Those who are not fully onthe Lord's side will be seen as fully on the devil's side. God isasking each of us to make an unwavering commitment.
Babylon
People have always busied themselves building structures thatthe Lord never ordered. Such was the Tower of Babel, which Godexposed as a wretched mass of confusion. Those denominations,ministries, ideologies, or religious organizations that today arecharacterized by their disregard for the Gospel of Jesus, andsowing confusion rather than truth, are a part of modern Babylon.God has a message for us concerning them.
"After all this I saw another angel come down from heavenwith great authority, and the earth grew bright with hissplendor. He gave a mighty shout, 'Babylon is fallen-that greatcity is fallen! She has become the hideout of demons and evilspirits, a nest for filthy buzzards, and a den for dreadfulbeasts . . .'
"Then I heard another voice calling from heaven, 'Comeaway from her, my people. Do not take part in her sins, or youwill be punished with her. For her sins are piled high as heaven,and God is ready to judge her for her evil deeds.'" Rev.18:1, 2, 4, 5
We dare not take lightly what God has taken seriously. If weare attached to an organization that God has cursed, we hadbetter stand up and announce our departure. In this way, othersmay be induced to separate as well. If we continue to showsupport with our tithes and offerings, our service, or ourpresence, we are actually blessing that which God has cursed.THESE ARE SUCH CRITICAL TIMES THAT EVEN TENUOUS TIES CAN BECONSIDERED TREASONOUS! You cannot serve two masters; God will notaccept a divided loyalty. This is no time to be fraternizing withthe enemy.
"Don't team up with those who are unbelievers. How cangoodness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live withdarkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the Devil?How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?" 2Corin. 6:14, 15
When you read the word "unbeliever" in the abovetext, don't think "pagan." The worst kind of unbeliefis that the blood of the Savior isn't good enough to save to theuttermost. While some denominations may be relatively pure, eventhey will soon outgrow their usefulness. Now, today, the Body ofChrist is being is called out, and how we respond will determinewhere we spend eternity. It is sheep or goat time.
As for me, my name will never again appear on the bottom lineof any religious organization. I need a church family to worshipwith each week, but it is love that binds a true family together,not subservience to some creedal statement. I already have alifetime membership in the Body of Christ, and there is nogreater honor afforded men in this present world. Anything elseis a step down.
But Where Shall We Go?
The Lord makes it clear we shouldn't neglect meeting withother believers, so where can we go if we are coming out of anon-believing organization?
Not too long ago a good Christian gentleman sat in my livingroom and pled, "But, Don, God's work can never be finishedwithout denominational organization." In other words, theold 3M plan of men, money, and methods. That failed formulahasn't worked for 2,000 years, and it certainly won't do intoday's crisis.
"Really?" I responded, "Denominations aremandatory? Have you ever heard of the New Age?" He had. Infact he was well enough informed to know that this movement hasinfiltrated every segment of our society, and has been workingmore effectively than the church.
"You say," I continued, "that nothing can beaccomplished without manmade organization. Well, who is thepresident of the New Age? Where is their world headquarters? Theyare so effective because they are NOT merely an organization, buta NETWORK. However, it is easy to discern that some mastermind isharmonizing the movement and leading out. That someone is thedevil himself.
"We have been trying to erect a religious tower of Babelpatterned after General Motors, but the Body of Christ cannot beso arranged. Like the New Age counterfeit, the Body also is to bea NETWORK, but under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Up to now,the Spirit has had a lot of trouble getting a word inedgewise."
The Holy Spirit has once again taken charge. We can follow hisleadership or not as we choose, but the Body will be found underhis command.
Where Two or Three . . .
If is worthy of note that many of the fastest growingcongregations in the United States are independent ofdenominational control. Younger people are not as willing as someof us were to give allegiance to a hierarchy. The congregation isa church family, and as long as they are walking with the Spiritin truth, we can have fellowship there. But there is anotherpossibility. The time may come when conditions will not permit usto gather in large groups; what then? Perhaps we can take our cuefrom two sources; God's people in China, and the church in thefirst century. Both flourished in small, home churches.
God puts his blessing on a gathering of two or three, and hepromises to be right in the midst of them. In fact, we arelearning that the usual arrangement of bolted pews facing those"leading out" up front is not conducive to the kindworship God had in mind.
"When you meet together some will sing, another willteach, or tell some special information God has given him, orspeak in an unknown language, or tell what someone else is sayingwho is speaking in the unknown language, but everything that isdone must be useful to all, and build them up in the Lord."1 Corin. 14:26
It's quite obvious that, although this is the Lord's own plan,it is relatively difficult to initiate in a large congregationboasting a typical worship service. Such interchange, however,comes naturally to a small group seated in a circle in a livingroom. Many congregations have recognized this dynamic, and havedivided their flock into small home groups for regular meetings.The day may not be too far off when home meetings will be ouronly option; it certainly is a viable one for many right now.There really is no legitimate excuse for refusing to stand fullyon the Lord's side, proclaiming allegiance to him alone.
The Moment of Truth
During World War I my father was a doughboy in France, andafter the armistice he stayed on to study at a university. Whileattending school he roomed with a family who had a little sonnamed Robert Desvernine. As Robert grew up, he and I became avidpen pals and hoped to meet one day.
When World War II erupted, Robert and I each joined the navyof our respective countries. All too quickly Hitler's mightyPanzer divisions swept around the vaunted Maginot Line, and Parisfell to the Germans. A French officer came aboard Robert's shipand announced that every man aboard had to make a seriousdecision in mere moments. They could either stay with the shipand cooperate with the German forces, or they could leave theland of their upbringing and fight with the Allies against theoccupying enemy. Robert was a very idealistic young man, and hechose to become a freedom fighter.
This happened just weeks before my enlistment in the U.S.Navy, and at the time I was living in New York City-somethingRobert was not aware of. One day I got a note saying my friendwas in New York City for a brief stay, and it gave a specificaddress. Immediately, and excitedly, I boarded a subway train andlooked up the home in question. I was crestfallen when thelandlady said that Robert had left less than 24 hours before. Soclose.
Robert retrained as an aircraft gunner. He went to NorthAfrica to continue the battle against the forces of repression,and was shot down and died for his cause.
My friend had only moments to make that fateful decision as towhich side he was going to fight on. There was no possibility ofcompromise. Now is our moment of truth. We have a very short timeto make our own decision whether to continue fraternizing withthe enemy, or cast our lot totally on the Lord's side. God willnot accept any degree of compromise. Either we are for the Son,or we are against him.
Not only must we uphold a Gospel bought at such terribleprice, but we also must do battle against the false gospelsholding so many in bondage. We may, in the past, have beennervous about the ministry of the Holy Spirit, but it is time totrust him fully as part of the Godhead. This is a must, as theSpirit is the one who coordinates the forces of righteousness onthe battlefield.
We long for cosmic peace, but first comes cosmic conflict.
"Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standingthere. And the one sitting on the horse was named Faithful andTrue. For he judges fairly and then goes to war. His eyes werebright like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. Aname was written on him, and only he knew what it meant. He wasclothed with a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Wordof God. The armies of heaven, dressed in pure white linen,followed him on white horses. From his mouth came a sharp sword,and with it he struck down the nations. He ruled them with aniron rod, and he trod the winepress of the fierce wrath ofalmighty God. On his robe and thigh was written this title: Kingof Kings and Lord of Lords." Rev. 19:11-16
The last great battle is already underway. The Lamb isnow the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. The only question thatremains is, which side are you on?